As antisemitic people call for the death of America and another holocaust of Jews — “from the river to the sea” — never forget the price for stopping such hateful aggression 80 years ago today.

Adolf Hitler was torturing and killing Jews. In his quest to rule the world, he had toppled France. Free countries, morally superior to Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ regime, had to stop Germany’s aggression before it was too late.

In a shared quest to save the world from antisemitic tyranny, 133,000 troops from the United States, Canada, the British Commonwealth and an assortment of British allies stormed the beaches of Normandy, overcoming booby traps and other obstacles established to stop them. Today we honor that heroic defense of liberty, acknowledging an occasion no less significant than the Fourth of July.

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This should be a solemn day of mourning for more than 4,400 Allied troops, including 2,500 Americans, who died in the D-Day offensive to save the free world from Nazi aggression. The invasion involved more than 175,000 personnel who crossed the English Channel in ships, airplanes and gliders.

By June 30, 1944, more than 850,000 men and 570,000 tons of supplies arriving in 148,000 vehicles had joined the raid, making it history’s largest land, sea and ground invasion.

On this 80th anniversary, we should honor D-Day survivors — along with other veterans of World War II — as if we won’t see them for another marquee D-Day celebration. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that only 1% of American D-Day veterans — about 730 — remain alive. By the 90th anniversary of D-Day, the number of survivors likely will be none.

Today’s D-Day veterans, most in their 90s and 100s, speak of the invasion as if it were yesterday. It has haunted them, inspired them and defined them.

This year’s commemoration is so important that thousands of veterans from around the globe are visiting Normandy to socialize and watch reenactments of the beach landings. The Greatest Generations Foundation, based in Colorado, is paying for the costs of U.S. veterans to travel and visit the landmark.

Hatred has always been a bane of humanity, and it shows no sign of letting up. Just as Hitler attempted to wipe out Jews, modern antisemitic rulers want to fulfill his agenda.

“I hope that God will liberate Palestine as soon as possible, and we witness the final moments of Israel’s existence and celebrate its end,” said Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in late 2023, who died last month in a helicopter crash.

Incredibly, despite enjoying the fruits of good defeating evil in World War II, entitled college professors, naive students and paid agitators support modern anti-Jewish aggression as if they learned nothing from World War II.

Humanity should hope and pray for a world that never sees World War III. Yet, a nation of free people who prioritize civil rights should always be ready, able and willing to take on tyranny before it leads to another war.

To give honor where it is due and avoid another bloodbath, let’s remember the high cost of D-Day and the rewards it provided for free and peaceable people around the globe.

Colorado Springs Gazette Editorial Board